Roxby Downs celebrate as ‘mystery man’ Hayball becomes a Cat
EVEN astute AFL observers were left scratching their heads and scrambling for details when Geelong called Matthew Hayball’s name to conclude Tuesday night’s draft.
EVEN astute AFL observers were left scratching their heads and scrambling for details when Geelong called Matthew Hayball’s name to conclude Tuesday night’s draft.
The West Adelaide product had not been mentioned in phantom drafts, did not have a player profile on the AFL website and media outlets that listed his height or weight got them wrong.
But talk to Trevor Grenfell, manager of Roxby Downs Tavern, and he tells you almost everyone in the remote mining town of about 5000 people knows Hayball’s story.
“I’d be surprised if anyone didn’t,” Grenfell said. “They’re always proud when a young lad gets drafted from a small town. It gives it a bit of a buzz.”
Until Tuesday night, there was only one Roxby Downs-bred player in AFL ranks.
Now there are three — Port Adelaide’s Jack Hombsch, Hayball and West Coast draftee Luke Partington.
“It’s an amazing feat for the town — must be good water,” Hayball’s father Geoff jokes.
Hayball’s parents Karen and Geoff laugh about their son’s pre-draft anonymity outside of Roxby and Geelong’s recruiting circles.
But it is also fitting given his softly-spoken, unassuming nature.
Evidently, the half-forward/wingman stands 185cm and 73kg, rather than 194cm and 85kg as has been reported.
He did not represent SA at the national under-18 titles nor had he played much senior football for West — just two reserves games compared to 23 in the club’s under-18s.
But Cats recruiting guru Stephen Wells had been monitoring Hayball.
Wells has drafted several Croweaters via left-field selections over the years, including Corey Enright (pick 47, 1999), Andrew Mackie (pick 7, 2002) and George Horlin-Smith (pick 37, 2010), and swooped on the Bloods youngster with the 70th selection.
“When Geelong picked three before him, we thought ‘oh no’,” Geoff said. “But then it was the very last one.
“I jumped up for joy, went outside to have a cigarette and then the phone just started ringing.”
Hayball, 18, followed Geoff, who played in Port Pirie and Alice Springs, into football.
They would kick together in the backyard, where Hayball developed into a left-footer, unlike his father.
“All the way along you could tell he was naturally suited to play footy but he was so young you had to wait for it to develop,” Geoff said.
Hayball came up through the ranks in Roxby Downs, a town located 570km to Adelaide’s northwest where the junior football association splits players into composite teams to maintain an even competition.
Among them were long-time friends Jaydn Brind, who would become a Bloods teammate, and Partington.
“You’d just play against your mates every week,” Hayball said.
“We didn’t complain because we were just happy to have a game.”
The Hayballs left Roxby for a few years once Geoff sold his Autopro business, moving to Adelaide and Mount Gambier.
They returned midway through 2009 — the year Hayball won an under-13 association medal and premiership at Pooraka.
For the second half of that season, the Hayball males would drive the five-and-a-half hours from Roxby each week.
“I loved playing so the drive didn’t bother me,” Matthew said.
“Playing was all I wanted to do.”
Hayball’s football journey changed again in 2010 when a Bloods contingent visited Roxby as part of a trip to their regional zone.
West’s then senior coach Andrew Collins took a liking to his balance and kicking during a skills session so invited him to join the club’s holiday training program in Adelaide.
That meant more lengthy drives, during which Hayball would usually sleep and Geoff played “good music from the ‘60s and ‘70s”.
Former Bloods junior coach Jarrod Meers likened Hayball to Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe because of his high leap and eye-catching marking — something Hayball became known for in his formative years in Roxby.
“Matthew’s got really good hands ... and has taken some absolute hangers,” Meers said.
In 2012, Hayball began boarding at Sacred Heart College, where he would become teammates with future AFL players, including Cory Gregson (Geelong) and Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne).
Hayball would return to his hometown during the school holidays and played a handful of senior games for Roxby Districts.
“I was going up against bigger guys and I was really, really quite small.
“I remember in my first game their ruckman took me out with one of my first kicks.”
Hayball remains relatively skinny and is aware he is considered a project player.
He will live with the Cats’ other draftees until Christmas before moving out with a host family.
“He’ll adapt very quickly because he’s adapted all the way along,” Geoff said.
“He’s quiet, unassuming and just goes about his business.
“We’re super proud of him.”
On draft night Geoff and Karen took more than 50 phone calls and received countless congratulatory text and Facebook messages from family and friends, many from Roxby.
“The response has been overwhelming and fantastic,” Karen said.
Hayball could not believe it when he started receiving texts from Cats players and took a call from Geelong captain Joel Selwood.
“It’s surreal,” he said.
“The AFL has always been a dream since a very young age.
“I just have to thank all my coaches, clubs, Roxby junior footy association, Sacred Heart, Westies, my family and friends for everything they’ve done along the way.
“I’m looking forward to going over there and working hard.”
As excited as Hayball is to begin his AFL journey, he is just as thrilled Partington will get his opportunity at the Eagles.
The pair learnt to ride motorbikes together at a clay pan in Roxby and their families became friends.
Luke’s father Brian died in an industrial accident at the Olympic Dam mine in February.
“That shook the town,” Hayball said. “It’s fantastic for Parto to still be able to achieve his dream.”
Matthew Daddow, past president of the Roxby Downs Junior Football Association, said the town was chuffed for its latest success stories.
“Just to have Jack Hombsch, we thought we were going all right,” Daddow said.
“To get three kids, it’s a pretty huge effort.”